J.R. Martinez on Dancing With The Stars

The soap star and war hero Is ready to rumba!

As I read the list of the newest contestants on ABC's 13th season of Dancing With The Stars, I wasn't all that impressed. I mean, I was yawningÔÇª until I saw that J.R. Martinez, a soap opera actor on ABC's "All My Children," did I perk up. I mean, probably he was added to the new group in an effort to help fulfill ABC's diversity quota, but maybe he'll go on to win.

DWTS returns on Monday, September 19th, with a Fall season lineup of spandex-sporting contestants that's as bewildering as ever.

Before becoming an actor, J.R. (Jose Rene) Martinez, was a military man, a soldier in the Army. In 2003, while serving in Iraq, he was injured with severe burns to over 40 percent of his body while driving a Humvee that hit a landmine. Instead of letting his injuries destroy his life, he turned it into a positive by becoming a motivational speaker and eventually landing the role of Brot Monroe in ABC's soap drama "All My Children."

J.R. Martinez is a survivor, hero, actor and our choice to take the tacky mirror-ball trophy!